Amit Shah's J&K visit begins today, new COVID-19 variant spreads rapidly, here are top news headlines

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to begin his three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday (October 23). During his visit, Shah will chair a meeting to review the security situation and will virtually interact with the young members of the J&K's Youth. The Home Minister will also inaugurate the first Srinagar-Sharjah international flight.

 

It, notably, is Shah's first visit to Kashmir after the Centre revoked J-K's special status and bifurcated the erstwhile state into union territories in August 2019. Read more

A fresh wave of COVID-19 cases has been reported from several European and Asian countries due to the new strain of the Delta variant being dubbed as AY.4.2 or "Delta Plus". It includes spike mutations A222V and Y145H, which might give the virus survival advantages. 

 

According to WHO, the UK has reported 2,83,756 new cases, a 14 per cent increase while Russia has seen 2,17,322 new cases, a 15 per cent rise. Read more

Namibia on Friday beat Ireland by eight wickets in Group A of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah and progressed to the Super 12 stages.

 

As a result of finishing at the top of Group A, Namibia will join India's group featuring Pakistan, New Zealand and Afghanistan. Read more

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has informed that the selection process for pilgrims for Haj 2022 will be based on several COVID-appropriate criteria, including complete inoculation with all required doses, and in accordance with the guidelines set by the governments of India and Saudi Arabia.

 

Naqvi said the official announcement of Haj 2022 will be made in the first week of November and along with that, the process of online application for Haj will also be started. Read more

The Narcotics Control Bureau has summoned actor Ananya Panday again on Monday (October 25) for a third round of questioning in a WhatsApp chat related to Aryan Khan drugs case. This comes after the actress visited the NCB office for two consecutive days on Thursday and Friday.

 

She reportedly was questioned for about 4 hours on Friday. Read more